Thread: Early French razor in tortoise: AUX 15-20

This razor I know very little about, other than that by the styling it looks like early 1800s and French. The tang is stamped AUX 15-20. The condition is wonderful. It has been reground and polished at some point, but the scales have almost no damage.

So this one just ended. I had been watching it but didn't make the connection before.

Ancienne Boite rasoir Coupe Choux Coffret Tire Bouchon Necessaire Voyage Wall | eBay

It's got the same stamping 15-20.

Here's a picture of the tang of that one:



Anybody have any info on that?

Very nice razor indeed, definately french and definately early 1800's, that mark AUX 15-20, belongs to Lepetitwalle a french cutler (fabriquant de rasoir). His name comes up in early 1800's Directories.


That snipet,quinze =15, vingt=20.
Petit-Walle was also very recognize for his razors, this little snippet from a science book talks about trying a new steel for razors and cleary confirms him using the mark AUX 15-20.

Also i gather that he was some kind of teacher since other cutlers refer to have learn under Petit-Walle.



About the other razor you posted, the Walle DES 15-20, That was his nephew, and he learned his trade from his uncle like many others.



This razor might perhaps be quite special since Lepetit-Walle was famous and many other cutlers refer to his name, as their teacher.

Likely a very important cutler in French razor history.

Wow! Thanks so much Martin, I was hoping you'd come along to the thread. Really interesting information.

Walle laboratory, on rue de Charenton, Paris in 1798.

"Manufacture Nationale - Fabrication particulière de bons rasoirs d'acier fondu pareille a celle de Sheffield en Angleterre


The only Manufacture in France of good razors of melted steel in the same manner as that of Sheffield in Yorkshire
NB - Il est bon d'observer que cette manipulation n'est destinée qu'à la seule partie des nécessaires à barbe
Le Petit-Walle aux Quinze-Vingts, Faubourg st. Antoine, à Paris."